Sound quality: Samsung's HW-B450/ZA has Good overall sound quality - this model reproduces music and dialog reasonably well despite the obvious shortcomings in its sound. In the Standard sound mode, bass has good impact and goes fairly deep but is a bit prominent and boomy. Midrange is fairly even but is somewhat grainy. Treble is extended but is a bit sizzly and dry. Does a decent job of recovering room ambience but the overall sound is somewhat congested. With stereo program material two channel sound field extends somewhat above and only a bit beyond the sides of the speaker array, but lacks depth. The various sound modes and the Voice Effect and Night Modes have a noticeable effect on the sound field and/or tonal balance. When 5.1 channel program material is played back in the Standard mode the width and height of the sound stage expands, and depending on the program material extends well beyond the height and width of the soundbar enclosure. The various sound modes and the Voice Effect and Night Modes have a noticeable effect on the sound field and/or tonal balance. There was no significant difference in sound quality between the optical, USB, and Bluetooth inputs. We found that the tone settings of this model were a bit glitchy - even though the settings look like they haven't changed they may actually change to some other settings which will cause the sound of the soundbar to change when it is unplugged or turned off and turned back on again. To make sure the settings are the ones that were originally chosen (and the sound of the soundbar is the way it was intended to be set) the tone controls settings have to be re-set to the desired values. If not for this problem with the settings the sound quality of this model would have scored higher in the Good range. The system can provide satisfying volume in a medium sized room.
TV setup and ease of use: very good overall.
Features setup and ease of use: good overall.
